Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-18
COUSIN MARY.

'ls her room ready, Fannyl"
eyes; quite rcady-cver,thing ready"
''She ought to Doe here now. if the train is
Puncual'; and as I spoke / put my head on
one side in listening attitude 10 catch the
FIRST sound Of coming wheels
II wonder what she'll be like" SAYS Ada
for the ffticth time; - wonder If she is pref
IT," And my sister glances at her own pretty
fac cas- reflected in the mirror over the mantle
piece, with, perhaps a pardonable feeling Of
satisfaction.
Mother scans the tea table with a critical
eye TO see that nothing IS wanting Jack, our
young hopeful OF u years, joins the group at
the window, and still the the expected arrival
comes not.
Our early dinner has been over some hours.
1t is our usual tea hour now, but in honor Of
Cousin Mary we at first resolved TO dine later,
and have finally compromised matters by hay
ing high tea, which set out on snowy cloth,
with the fires rays dancing over it, looks even
In our tiny parlor, to nv prejudced eyes, very
inviting. Mother" ] question presently,
'will you say anything about Uncle Edgar TO
heri" "Not tonight, think dear. She can't
bave got over his death yet, and at any rate,
I should find ii awkward to do so. You know
we have not been on speaking terms for years
cow. j was as yexed about our differences as
u he had been my own brother instead OF my
stepbrOther." And mother heaves a sigh as
she speaks, and wonder how anyone can en-
tertain resentment against anything gentle.
where does she travel from to-dayl" asks
Ada presently
''From place called Yarley, think" re.
sponds mother "but really know as little
about her as You do ] think she has been
visiting some people called WhItelaw"
Jack goes and pulls back the curtains I've
have drawn them and lighted the gas, as the
twilight is falling rapidly for the sixth time,
o. we hear a sound OF wheels.
This time they do stop before our house,
and before there has been time TO open the
front door Ada and mother are already In the
passage
81 say, Fanny" exclaims Jack, who still re-
tains his viewpoint there's a gol Look
here" step forward and look over bis
shoulder.
The cab has drawn up and before the cab
man has had time to alight some one opens
the door unaided and springs on to the pave
ment In a very independent fashion. With
q sweeping glance at our house she seems Go
take in all its dimensions, coolly including its
inmates-Mother and Ada on the doorstep,
Jack and me al the window. Then, without
changing her expression Of face, she says
few words 10 the cabman. and presently, "a
our Amusement, before either Jack or libby,
our maid OF all work, can rush to the rescue,
this capable young female has slung . band
box In one hand and with the other ha. seized
one end Of a heavy wooden trunk which occu
pied the box Of tho cab, and in few hasty
strides deposited 1t within the door.
By this time, mindful of my duty, I reached
the door. whore the others are already recelv
ing Cousin Mars.
'How are soG Maryi SAYS mother kindly
SHOW dye do'" responded our Cousin, in
loud, deep voice. shaking hands with us II
turn, as each goes forward.
"where's my trunk 10 go" continues she
having hardly glanced at Ada and me.
libby, the remiss, has now appeared on thu
scene Upon our guest deigus to bestow
prolonged stare
"Jack," call, ''come and help upstairs wit
the trunk" the while regarding with some
CONSERVATION the unwieldy article before me
and thinking with some dismay how It will
Oh up our tiny spare room